The Aug. 4 route between Gevrey-Chambertin and Dijon is roughly 9.3 miles
Credit: Nicolas TUCAT / AFP via Getty
NEED TO KNOW
- Riders at the Tour de France Femmes will undergo upgraded clothing checks after some teams expressed concern of riders using extra padding to create an aerodynamic advantage
- Organizers said on Aug. 4, “Particular attention will be paid to compliance with article 1.3.032 of the UCI regulations, including non-essential elements and clothing or other items/accessories worn by a rider”
- Tuesday’s route for riders, between Gevrey-Chambertin and Dijon, is roughly 9.3 miles
Officials from Tour de France Femmes will be doing extra clothing checks on riders after rumors circulated that some athletes are utilizing extra padding in their bras for a potential aerodynamic advantage.
On Sunday, Aug. 2, Wielerflits reported that a handful of teams competing in the tournament were “bothered by how some female cyclists exploit their breast size in time trials.” The outlet said the riders were “faking a larger cup size using padding” so that they can “create an aerodynamic advantage” in the trial.
Official rules set by the International Cycling Union (UCI) state that riders can not artificially modify their clothing, but the outlet said that this policy is “currently virtually unenforced.”
Credit: Tim de Waele/Getty
On Tuesday, Aug. 4, officials said they’ll be doing closer checks. “Riders must be at the final checks before the race (bikes and outfit) no later than 10 minutes before their respective start time,” a statement from organizers said, per Sky Sports.
“Particular attention will be paid to compliance with article 1.3.032 of the UCI regulations, including non-essential elements and clothing or other items/accessories worn by a rider (including but not limited to helmets, glasses, shoes or in-race communication devices) which could modify riders’ morphology,” the statement continued.
The “non-essential elements” are considered “any element which does not have a purpose which is exclusively of clothing or protection, or which is not strictly necessary for the functionality of the clothing, or other item, or accessory,” according to Sky Sports.
Tuesday’s route for riders, between Gevrey-Chambertin and Dijon, is roughly 9.3 miles.
Speaking to Wielerflits, aerodynamics expert Bert Blocken explained more about the advantage.
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“We are talking about a chest fairing, which alters the airflow around the body, thereby reducing overpressure on the thighs. As a result, the rider experiences less air resistance. It is not that you gain a benefit of tens of seconds with this in a time trial, but in a ride of 20 to 30 kilometers, it can yield seconds that can be decisive,” Blocken said.
When addressing a specific example of this advantage, the outlet reportedly showed Blocken images from time trials last season, in which some riders were “visibly wearing something under their jerseys on the chest,” Blocken said. He added, “This is clearly not okay,” per Wielerflits.
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